Hey there, and welcome back to my blog today! Let’s chat about something that’s been on my mind lately, the whole opt-in vs confirmed opt-in debate. It’s a bigger deal than you might think, especially with all these new email rules from Yahoo and Google.
I’ve been a confirmed opt-in believer from day one. I love having a clean email list with people who actually want to hear from me. I’ll be honest though, I started second-guessing myself recently when I noticed my sign-ups slowing down. Despite getting tons of traffic from my social channels and Google, fewer people were joining my email list.
When I brought this up with my coaches, they were quick to say, “Don’t change your confirmed opt-in setup! That’s not the problem.” They reminded me that when comparing opt-in vs confirmed opt-in, keeping a good reputation with email providers should be my priority (especially with those strict new rules), and we should look at other aspects like my opt-in page and see what might be missing.
We revamped my opt-in page with few tweaks here and there and targeted improvements. Now I’m giving those changes some time to work before making any drastic decisions. I already knew how both approaches work, but I wanted to break down the opt-in vs confirmed opt-in options for you incase you’re a little confused with the two, so you can choose the right strategy for your specific business needs.
What Is Opt-In (Single Opt-In)?
This is the “one-click and you’re in” approach in the opt-in vs confirmed opt-in decision. Someone enters their email on your form, and boom, they’re on your list. No extra steps needed.
Pros of Single Opt-In:
✅ Super simple for subscribers – they fill out one form and they’re done ✅ Your list grows faster – every email address gets added right away ✅ No friction – no chance of losing people between sign-up and confirmation
Cons of Single Opt-In:
❌ You’ll get typos and fake emails – leading to bounces that hurt your sender score ❌ Some people might not remember signing up – “Who are you and why are you emailing me?” ❌ Higher risk of spam complaints – nothing kills deliverability faster than the spam button
What Is Confirmed Opt-In (Double Opt-In)?
The second option in the opt-in vs confirmed opt-in comparison adds an extra step. After someone signs up, they get an email asking them to confirm by clicking a link. Only after that click do they join your list.
Pros of Confirmed Opt-In:
✅ You get subscribers who actually want your emails – they cared enough to confirm ✅ Fewer bounces – no more “mailbox not found” messages ✅ Better deliverability – engaged subscribers and fewer spam complaints mean more emails hitting your inbox ✅ Keeps you on the right side of email laws.
Cons of Confirmed Opt-In:
❌ Your list grows slower – some people never confirm their subscription ❌ It’s an extra hoop for subscribers to jump through – and we all know how busy people are ❌ If that confirmation email goes to spam, you’ve lost them forever
New Yahoo & Google Email Rules: What You Need to Know
In February 2024, Yahoo and Google got serious about cleaning up their inboxes. Their new rules aren’t just suggestions – ignore them and you might find your emails blocked or your account shut down.
How These Rules Affect Your Opt-in vs Confirmed Opt-in Choice:
📌 Yahoo & Google now want proper authentication (fancy tech stuff like DKIM, SPF, and DMARC). A clean list from confirmed opt-in means fewer spam complaints that could get you in trouble.
📌 High bounce rates can get you blacklisted. Single opt-in lists tend to have more bounces from typos and fake emails.
📌 Google’s watching how people interact with your emails. When weighing opt-in vs confirmed opt-in, remember that confirmed opt-in subscribers are more likely to open and click, which makes Google happy.
📌 Too many spam reports can get your account canceled. Yikes!
When Should You Use Single Opt-In?
In the opt-in vs confirmed opt-in discussion, single opt-in makes sense in certain situations:
- Growing your list quickly
- Low-commitment offers (newsletters, eBooks, free trials)
- Paid ads & social media campaigns
- Short-term promotions (flash sales, events)
- If you manually clean your list regularly
🚨 Just remember: If you go this route, stay on top of list hygiene to keep Yahoo and Google happy!
When Should You Use Confirmed Opt-In?
When considering opt-in vs confirmed opt-in, confirmed opt-in is your best bet when:
- High-quality engagement (paid memberships, coaching)
- Industries with strict regulations (finance, healthcare, GDPR)
- Long-term email strategy with a focus on engagement
- Reducing spam complaints and bounces
- Ensuring compliance with Yahoo & Google’s new rules
✅ Pro Tip: Even with single opt-in, you can add a re-engagement campaign to weed out cold subscribers before they become a problem.
How to Set Up Opt-In and Confirmed Opt-In
Most email platforms make the opt-in vs confirmed opt-in setup pretty easy:
Single Opt-In:
1️⃣ Create your sign-up form in your email tool (ConvertKit, MailerLite, whatever you use)
2️⃣ Add it to your site or landing page
3️⃣ People fill it out and they’re instantly on your list
Confirmed Opt-In:
1️⃣ Same as above, but flip the switch to enable double opt-in in your settings
2️⃣ New subscribers get a “please confirm” email
3️⃣ Only after they click that link do they join your list
Which One Should You Choose in the Opt-in vs Confirmed Opt-in Debate?
It really comes down to what matters most to you. Want fast growth and don’t mind doing some cleanup later? Single opt-in might work. Want quality subscribers who actually engage with your content? Confirmed opt-in is probably your best bet, especially with these new email rules.
Bottom Line: When deciding between opt-in vs confirmed opt-in, don’t mess around with these new email rules. Too many bounces or spam complaints could shut down your ability to email your people at all. Make the smart choice for your business and keep your email reputation solid.
I’m curious, in the opt-in vs confirmed opt-in debate, which method are you using? Drop a comment below! ⬇️
Thanks for visiting my blog today! I hope you got some valuable insights from this post. If you have any questions feel free to reach out, I’m always happy to help!
Until then!
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Hi Meredith – You are very fortunate to have coaches to help you tweak your forms and website as well as give you valuable advice. I am fortunate as I have that same luxury, and I utilize this benefit as much as possible. I, too, have been struggling with understanding the pros and cons of these two options. Your post has given me some clarification on future choices. Thank you very much for sharing your wisdom on what you have learned!
Hi Ernie,
Thank you so much! I agree, having great coaches and support makes such a difference. I’m glad my post helped bring some clarity for you! It’s always a learning process, but having the right guidance really helps. Wishing you success in your journey! 😊
Meredith
This is a great breakdown of the opt-in vs confirmed opt-in debate! I totally get why you had that moment of doubt when sign-ups slowed, but it’s awesome that you stuck with confirmed opt-in and focused on tweaking your opt-in page instead. Quality over quantity, right? I’m using confirmed opt-in too, and while it’s a slower build, I know my subscribers actually want to hear from me. Looking forward to seeing how your updates perform! Sarah x
Hi Sarah,
Thanks! Yes, it was definitely a little discouraging at first, but focusing on quality over quantity has made a big difference. It’s great to hear you’re using confirmed opt-in too, it really does help build a more engaged audience.
Meredith
I was a firm believer in more is better than less is the way to go before I read your blog. I didn’t realize how much more work I would be causing myself to have to be checking my list constantly!!
What a benefit to have counselors to go to when questions like this come up. I never would have thought of looking at my opt-in page to possibly need a tweak or two to speed things up. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Hi Judith,
I totally get that! It’s easy to think more is always better, but sometimes it just creates extra work. I’m glad the post gave you a new perspective! And yes, having people to turn to for advice is such a huge help. Hope tweaking your opt-in page brings great results, wishing you lots of success! 😉
Meredith
Meredith, This breakdown of opt-in vs confirmed opt-in is really well-structured and makes it easy to see the pros and cons of each approach. I’ve stuck with confirmed opt-in for my email list because I want quality subscribers who genuinely engage, but I’ve also faced the frustration of slower growth. The way you connected these choices to Google and Yahoo’s new email rules is especially helpful—it’s a reminder that deliverability and sender reputation matter more than just growing numbers. I also appreciate the practical steps for setting up both methods, as they make it clear how to adjust based on business goals. This post is a solid resource for anyone looking to build a strong email list without hurting their reach!
Hi Atif,
I completely understand the frustration of slower growth, but like you said, quality subscribers make all the difference. I’m glad you found the breakdown and practical steps helpful! Keeping up with deliverability rules is so important, and it’s great to see others thinking about the long-term benefits. Wishing you lots of success with your list!
Meredith
Great breakdown of the opt-in vs. confirmed opt-in debate! It’s so true that while single opt-in can grow a list faster, the long-term benefits of confirmed opt-in—like better engagement and deliverability—are hard to ignore, especially with these new email rules. I love how you pointed out that list hygiene is crucial no matter which method you choose. The tweaks to your opt-in page were a smart move too—sometimes it’s not about the opt-in method but optimizing the experience. Thanks for sharing such valuable insights! Curious—have you noticed a difference in engagement since making those changes?
Hi Alison,
Thank you! Yes, the long-term benefits of confirmed opt-in are definitely worth it, especially with the new email rules. And you’re so right, list hygiene is key no matter which method you choose. Tweaking the opt-in page has definitely made a difference, and it’s been interesting to see how people are responding. I really appreciate your thoughts and questions! 😊 Thanks for stopping by.
Meredith